Capture the Beauty: River Bend Gallery
There’s something so exciting about when business and passions collide. It’s like a firework formula where success and life happens. You know I can’t overstate how pumped we get about supporting small or local businesses. Well, this gallery isn’t in my neighborhood but the small town appeal with big quality product meant I couldn’t stay quiet about it.
River Bend Gallery is located on Main Street in Galena, Illinois but even if you’re not a local, you can browse and shop the gorgeous photography gallery online. (Which during the COVID-19 pandemic, is what the locals are doing too.)
Geoffrey Mikol is the artist behind all of the stunning photographs. He and his family own the gallery, started in 2016, that provides a line of variety gift items showcasing the beautiful pieces. Whether you need calendars, cutting boards, or puzzles, cards to coasters – they have it all! I’m blown away by the variety of prints: framed, steel stand off, barnwood, metal. There’s even a triplet set for those narrow nooks we need to decorate. There really is something for everyone. The difficult part is choosing which perfect piece.
Geoffrey was born with Down syndrome but it is his talent as a photographer that has brought him where he is today. His father shares how amazed he is at how even if he and Geoffrey take the same shot, his son’s photos capture the light and the moment better. Watch their video “Illinois Made” here. Geoffrey studied and practiced his photography as an early teen and has gone on to receive accolades and awards, gathering collectors and enthusiasts. Just recently, in 2019 River Bend Gallery was named “Business of the Year” by Galena Area Chamber of Commerce, and Geoffrey also received “Illinois Maker” status by the Office of Tourism.
I always say that the human eye can capture beauty better than any camera – you have to be there. But Geoffrey proves me wrong in his case, his photos seem to invite me to that quiet space in nature, that moment in time he sealed in his shot. See for yourself how these photos seem to speak calm as soon as your eye rests on them at riverbendgalleries.com. Want to stay up to date for what’s happening now? Visit River Bend Gallery’s Facebook page at facebook.com/RiverBendGallery
